Budget may see RSBY cover expanding

The government is planning to augment cashless insurance coverage under the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) from the existing Rs 30,000 to Rs 50,000 for a beneficiary.

In a move to provide a better insurance cover and to make healthcare facilities approachable to the below poverty line families, government of India is planning to augment cashless insurance coverage under the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) from the existing Rs 30,000 to Rs 50,000 for a beneficiary.This proposal is expected to be a part of the upcoming budget 2015-16 according to official sources.

Initially the identification, and issuance and fixing of beneficiaries will remain with labour ministry while health ministry will be involved in operating the scheme providing insurance cover etcetra.

The government has formed a inter-ministerial committee for smooth transition of RSBY to health ministry from labour ministry. The scheme is likely to be shifted to health ministry by April, according to sources.

The health ministry is planning to expand the portfolio of services under the scheme and is also in talks with several states for the same. It is also looking to start out-patient departments (OPD) under the scheme in government set ups, as per the sources.